Hnefatafl - Tafl Viking Chess Set | Wood Board, Stone/Resin Playing Pieces Odin (disguised as Gestubmlindi) challenges a king to a riddle: "What women are they, warring together before their defenseless king; day after day the dark guard him, but the fair go forth to attack?" The king answered correctly by replying: "This is the game of Hnefatafl. The darker ones guard the king, but the white ones attack." -Saga of Hervor and Heidrek One of our favorite sets, made from crushed stone and resin, nearly four times the weight of our resin option! Tafl (Old Norse: Table / Board) games were extremely popular with Vikings. There were numerous variants, however the "Hnefatafl" version became the preferred option in Scandinavia by the end of the Viking age.